How to Take Care of Long Hair in 10 Easy Steps

1. Use a Hair Oil

Of all styling products, hair oils seem the most luxurious—but they actually serve a major health purpose, especially on the ends of your hair and for curly hair.

“The longer our hair is, the older it is,” says Australia-based hairstylist and salon owner Faye Redfern. “And the older it is, just like us, it has been through a lot. It’s essential to keep hydrating long locks and avoiding dryness to keep them looking as young as our younger hair at the roots.”

Redfern’s pro tip? She takes one pump of a lightweight oil and distributes it evenly through the mid-lengths and ends, morning and evening, to lock in moisture and reduce tangles. 

Our pick goes to the plant-based IGK HAIR Best Life Nourishing Hair Oil. To keep things light as Redfern suggests, only use a small amount of product here, as a little goes a long way.

2. Braid for Bed

Braids aren’t just super stylish—they’re actually really good for your hair!

“Whether you sleep like a corpse or like you’re wrestling a bear, your long hair can’t take the risk,” Redfern says with a laugh. “Braid your hair as part of your nighttime routine and secure it with a coil to avoid any extra stress on your ends.”

She loves the NATALIE ANNE HAIRCARE Creaseless Coils because “they come in cute neutral colors so you feel super chic while you sleep.”

Added bonus? Once you take your hair out the next morning, you’ll end up with easy waves.

3. Sleep on a Silk Pillowcase

Who wouldn’t love to sleep on a silk pillowcase, amirite? But aren’t they more fun when you know they’re actually benefiting your hair?

“If you’ve been following hair trends for a while, this one won’t be new news,” Redfern says. “Not only does a silky pillow look bougie, it can reduce the frizz and potential damage to longer hair by having less surface friction while you sleep. Be sure to launder it weekly.”

If you’re going to opt for silk, you’ve got to reach for SLIP! The leading silk pillowcase brand comes in an array of colors and prints, and will put you to bed like a queen.

4. Use a Microfiber or Bamboo Towel Wrap

Put down your beach towel!

Redfern says a microfiber or bamboo towel is key to kicking off the air dry or blow dry hair-drying process. Using something like the AQUIS Rapid Dry Lisse Hair Wrap, she says, can help absorb more water from your hair and leave it up to five times stronger than traditional drying methods, reducing frizz and increasing shine. Check out 10 more of our recs for microfiber towels.

“Keep this on while you do your makeup as part of your Get Ready With Me (GRWM) routine,” she says.

5. Don’t Skip Regular Trims

We’ve all been there—freaking out every time we sit in the salon chair, scared that every inch of our chopped strands will make our hair look too short. But quite the contrary, in fact.

“We have such a relationship with our long locks, but you don’t want to let them down by skipping your stylist visits,” Redfern says. “A trim every eight weeks is essential to maintaining the health of your long hair and clipping away any split ends.”

6. Choose the Right Hair Brush 

Not all hair brushes are created equal.

“For longer hair, paddle brushes work best,” Redfern says. “The vented cushion will smooth your hair as you brush through and the wider set prongs will detangle more effortlessly on longer lengths.”

Redfern stands by the GHD All Rounder Paddle Brush, because “it has a sturdy handle that doesn’t slip when using it in wet hair, and it looks cute on your vanity,” she says. We’re personal fans of the COMPLEX CULTURE Oval Brush with more than 12,000 five-star reviews from our IPSY community. It saves us from frizzy strands.

Kimberlee Blakley, the senior director of product development for Marc Anthony True Professional hair care, suggests using a wide-tooth comb to detangle hair. “Start from the ends and work your way up to reduce breakage,” she says.

7. Maintain a Healthy Scalp

By now, we should all be taking proper care of our scalp, but Blakley wants to hammer the importance home. 

“It needs to be clean and well-moisturized,” she says. “Consider regular scalp massages to stimulate blood flow.” 

She suggests the MARC ANTHONY TRUE PROFESSIONAL Grow Long Scalp & Hair Serum “because it provides nourishment and moisture to the scalp without making the hair oily or greasy,” she says. “But it still provides enough moisture on the length to help seal split ends to reduce breakage.”

We love the ACT+ACRE Cold Processed Stem Cell Scalp Serum because it promotes and extends the hair growth phase while helping to reduce hair loss.

8. Apply Heat Protectant Before Styling

Because long hair has experienced more wear and tear, you want to be extra mindful of damage. Whether you use a blow dryer, flat iron, or other hot tool, you need to offer a liquid barrier.

“Always apply a heat protectant spray before using any heat styling tools to minimize damaged hair and maintain its integrity,” Blakley says. 

If you want our pre-hairdryer recommendation, we suggest going for the decadent SACHAJUAN Heat Protection Hair Cream. It smells divine and is infused with a proprietary Ocean Silk Technology, which adds shine and protection without icky residue. 

9. Avoid Tight Hair Accessories

Desperate times call for desperate measures—or do they? Regardless of whether you have your hair up in braids, buns, or other updos, Blakley says to fight the temptation to use whatever hair accessory is in front of you. She strongly suggests sticking to claw clips and silk scrunchies only.

“Avoid accessories that can break or snag your hair like elastics,” she says. 

10. Incorporate Nutrients Into Your Diet

Think of what you put in your body like the fuel you put in a car.

“Ensure a diet rich in vitamins and minerals, particularly those that promote hair health,” Blakley says, suggesting biotin, zinc, iron, and omega-3 fatty acids in particular. 

And of course you’ll want to check the labels of your hair care. When it comes to leave-in conditioners, hair masks, dry shampoos, and whatever additional treatments you use, seek out products with hair growth ingredients so the hair follicles and cuticles are continuously being nurtured.

Want in on all the IPSY hair fun and more? Take our Beauty Quiz now to get started with your own IPSY beauty subscription. Already an IPSY member? Refer your friends to earn points, which you can use toward products. Either way, don’t forget to check us out on Instagram and TikTok @IPSY.